Automatic coupling for railway and similar vehicles



octfso, 192s.- 1,472,241

G. J. COLES AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR RAILWAY AND SIMILAR VEHICLES Filed May '7, 1925 W 6, Abba; mm of icowyaymw 605m,

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Patented Get. 30, 1923.

UNITED @TATES lA'ZZldl- PATNT @FFlfitL GEORGE JAMES COLES, DECEASED, LATE OF GATESHEAD, ENGLAND; BY SARAH GRACE COLES, EXECUTRIX, OF GATESHEAD, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR RAILWAY AND SIMILAR VEHICLES.

Application filed May 7,

verse latch normally extending into said recess adapted to engage a notch in said projection, said latch being releasable from either side of the vehicle. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of coupling head of this kind.

A coupling head in accordance with this invention is of substantially pyramidal form and is integral with a draw-bar extending rearwardly from the smaller end thereof, and has a fixed longitudinally-extending projection on its front face, a longitudinallyextending recess in said face, said projection and recess being symmetrically disposed one on each side of the face, there being pivoted in said head a transverse latch which extends into said recess, said projection having a transverse notch, means being provided for swinging said latch upwards, and resilient means for ensuring the return of said latch to its initial position after it has been raised and the raising means released, said resilient means comprising a concealed spring bearing on the tail-piece of the transverse latch which is compressed when the latch is raised and ensures that the latch returns to normal position and is not displaced even by ab normal vibration.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a coupling head in accordance with the present invention, and the invention will be more fully described herein with reference to the said drawings. In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of the opposite sides of the head, Figure 3 is a plan, and Figure 4 is an elevation of the buffing face.

Referring to the drawings, the coupling head therein illustrated is of substantially pyramidal form tapering rearwardly from the buffing face a on all sides to the central and to be secured therein by a pivoted trans' 1923'. Serial No. 637,395.

draw-bar Z) which is cast in one with the head. This form gives a maximum of strength with a minimum of weight and the weight of the head is further decreased by providing openings at c on each side of a central rib (Z. The bufiing face is provided with a fixed projection e as usual and a corresponding flared recess fto receive the projection of the opposing coupling head. A transverse latch g pivoted at It lies in a slot in the top of the head and projects into the recess 7", said latch having a thin plate j attached to it or in one with it adapted to cover the slot in the head to keep dust and the like out of said slot. The latch g is adapted to be raised by the projection e of the opposing head as it enters the recess 7', to allow the front portion of said projection to pass beneath it, and to fall into the notch 70 in said projection. The latch normally falls into position under the action of gravity but, to ensure that it is not displaced even by abnormal vibration of the coupling, a concealed spring m is provided in a recess n which bears on a tail piece 32 of the latch and is compressed when the latch is raised. If desired, the latch may be temporarily locked against movement after it has fallen into the notch in the projection of the opposing head, by mechanical means. 9 are pivoted disengaging levers, the forward ends of which engage the free ends 7' of the latches g of both cou pling heads when two heads are coupled together so that, by rocking the levers of either head, both latches can be disengaged from the notches k in the projections e to permit of uncoupling. A link .9 is pivoted at t for coupling the head to an ordinary coupling hook when it. is desired to connect a vehicle fitted with the improved coupling heads to one not so fitted, a slot to being provided in the buffing face to allow the link 8 to be raised into the horizontal position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Automatic couplings for vehicles comprising a coupling head of substantially pyramidal form, a draw-bar integral therewith extending rearwardly from the smaller end of said head, a fixed longitudinally-extending projection on the bufiing face of said head, a lougitudinally-extending recess in said buffing face, said projection and recess being symmetricallydisposed one on each side of the buffing face, a transverse latch pivoted in said head extending into said recess, a transverse notch in said projection, means for swinging said latch upwards, and resilient means for ensuring the return of said latch to its initial position after it has been raised and the raising means released.

2. Automatic couplings for vehicles comprising a coupling head of substantially pyramidal form, a drawbar integral therewith extending rearwardly from the smaller end of said head, a fixed longitudinally-extending projection on the bufiing face of said head, a longitudinally-extending recess in said buffing face, said projection and recess being symmetrically disposed one on each side of the bufiing face, a transverse latch pivoted in said head extending into said recess, a transverse notch insaid projection, means for swinging said latch upwards,'a tail-piece on said latch, and a spring Within the head co-acting with said tail-piece to return the latch to its initial position after it' has been raised and the raising means released.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification. V

' SARAH GRACE COLES,

Emecutriw'of George Jam-es Colea, deceased. 

